Locomotive-furnace.



F. F. GAINES.

LOCOMOTIVE FURNACE. APPLICATION IIILED JULY 24,1913.

' Patented May 19, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK F. GAIN'ES, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR. TO AMERICAN ARCH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,.A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LOCOMOTIVE-FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914..

Serial No. 780,961.

Application filed July 24. 1913.

To (1. whom it may (-olwem lie it known thatl, .FREDl-JI-llt'li F. (invixrs,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Savannah, Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive-Furnaees, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to improvements in loeon'iotive. boiler furnaces and has particular reference to improven'ients in fireboxes for locomotive boilers.

The object of my invention is to provide a hieomotive boiler firebox wherein the combustion of the fuel shall. be substantially perfeetl y completed before the gases escape through the ilues of the boiler, and which shall retain within itself the fuel particles and einders carried upward from the bed of fuel by the strong draft employed and thus prevent these materials from being ejected from the locomotive stack.

A further object of my invention is to provide a form and construction of refractory ballle wall which can be installed in a locomotive boiler fire box with the expenditure of comparatiwly little time and labor, and which, when once installed, can be maintained in position at slight expense; which shall be so arranged that an auxiliary combustion chamber isprovided in the firebox in which the gases of combustion can be protected against the blasts of cool air which enter the fire (lO01 f1'()lll time to time; and which shall also afiord convenient means for removing the accun'iulated cinders and fue particles therefrom. v A further object of my invention is to provide a refractory bal'lle wall which shall materially increase the etlic'iency of a locomotive boiler fire box in which it is installed; which shall be maintained in its desired position without the use of additional parts or fixtures; which as a whole shall be in a sense self-sustaining, and which shall aid the complete oxidation of all fuel before the products of combustion escape through the fines.

A further object of my invention is to provide a refractory batlic in a locomotive boiler fire box which shall divide the box into two sections or parts without the necessityof reducing the grate area to any large extent; and which shall carry within itself means for maintaining the ballle in position. l\iy lnvention resides in a locomotive boiler fire box containing at its forward end a refractory cross wall in rearwardly incl ned position and maintained in its inclined position by means of a self-sustainmg arch supported by the side sheets of the fire box, and-against which the inclined wall rests at its upper end.

Myinvention also consists in the various features of construction and the arrangements and combinations of parts whereby the above and other objects are attained and all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section of a locomotive boiler fire box equipped with an inclined bafiie wall, the whole embodying my invention in one form; and F i 2 is a transverse vertical section of the fire box on the line 2-2 of Fig, 1.-

In the development of the locomotive boiler to its latter-day comparatively high eflieiency many factors have lent their aid. This high efficiency has been due in great measure to the use of refractory arches and baflle walls. The additional efliciency attained by the use of these devices, in so far as it has been practical to introduce them, seems to be making it imperative that they beinti'oduced into all fire boxes.

My present invention is directed particularly to the development of a construction by which the advantages of the refractory walls may be added to a certain class of fire boxes in which, heretofore, it has been practicably impossible to install these devices, and my invention refers partirularly to walls installed and maintained in relatively short fire boxes or. rather in fire boxes wherein it is not desirable to throw out of service very much of the grate area. Furthermore, my novel construction adds the desirable feature ofan auxiliary combustion chamber within the fire box wherein the highly heated and partly consumed gases may complete their combustion under the most advantageous conditions of protection from cooling and from the blasts of air which enter when the fuel door is opened from time to time. To accomplish these desirable results I arrange a refractory wall across the forward part of the fire box rising from the grate surface, spaced at its lower end a short distance from the flue sheet and inclined rearwardly. This wall preferably rises to about two-thirds of the height of the fire box and being inclined rearwardly an auxiliary combustion space of desirable dimensions is provided between the wall and the flue sheet wherein the gases may continue and complete their combustion before they escape through the fines. This wall being in inclinedposition, and rising between the substantially parallel side sheets of the fire box, must necessarily be maintained in its position against the deteriorating effects of the high temperatures of the fire box and of the jarring and vibrations due to the movement of the locomotive over the rails. To accomplish this I provide 'a transverse, in-

clined baflie arched between the side sheets of the fire box and which thus maintains itself in position and serves'as an abutment against which the upper end of the inclined wall rests. This arch adds to the desirable features or functions of the wall and serves to complete the refractory baflle which I arrange between the fuel bed and the tines. The combustion chamber between the battle wall and the flue sheet not only serves to permit the substantially complete, combustion of the fuel before it leaves the fire boxbut being in a sense an enlargement of the passage through which the gases pass'on their way to-the flues the rate of flow of the gases is reduced therein and consequently they deposit their burden of cinders at this point. I provide a convenient means at the lower art of this auxiliary combustion chamber for removing the accumulation of cinders from time to time. A refractory baffle arranged in the manner in which I have described not only serves to produce the results indicated but also serves to aid materially in the production of substantially perfect combustion of the fuel on account of the mass of refractory material of which the wall is built. This mass attains a high temperature and serves to equalize and minimize the effects of cool air entering the box andalso serves as a means of causing the admixing and comminghngof the gases of combustion and fuel particles as they rise from the fuel bed. It also serves to revent the direct flow of the gases of com ustion from'the fuel bed to the flues and causes them to distribute the heat of combustion over substantially the entireinterior surface of the fire box, thereby aiding in the most efficient use of'the fire box in the reduction of steam. Furthermore, the incined walliiay serve as a means of introducing addi-' tional air for admixture with the gases of cnmbustion and not only for admitting this air, but for admitting it in a highly heated condition for the wall, once it attains a high temperature serves to heat the auxiliary air which "I admit through the body of the wall from the ash pitto the fire box above the fuel bed. a

A locomotive fire box A, as illustrated in the drawings, is made up of a flue sheet a atits forward end, a rear sheet a at its rear end, a crown sheet a and side sheets a, a. Flues a lead forward from the flue sheet. The rear shoot is provided with a fuel door or opening a and the firebox is provided with a grate a of usual construction. I provide a transverse refractory wall Bar-ranged adjacent to the front end of the fire box and supported upon a transverse bridge member G which is carried by or supported on the side walls of the fire box. I place the bridge wall C slightly to the rear of the flue sheet and at a sufiicient distance to permit the installation of the cinder outlet D, which I arrange between the bridge member C and the flue sheet. The wall being inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the bridge member C provides a space a between the wall and the flue sheet which is of sufiicient dimensions to serve as an auxiliary combustion chamber in addition to the main combustion chamber a which occupies the bulk of the fire box.

' I preferably build the wall B of a series of transverse rows b of refractory bricks The lowermost row of bricks rests upon and is supported by the bridge member 0 and is maintained longitudinally of the fire box in position by means of upwardly projecting flangesc which are formed upon the front and rear edges of the upper surface of the bridge member 0. The individual bricks of which I build the wall are provided on their upper surfaces with interlocking parts b which are adapted to enter grooves or openings 6* formedin the lower,

ends of the next adjacent bricks, the bricks of the wall consequently interlock with each other and serve to maintain each other in position. These transverse rows of bricks are also'built in between the side sheets a of the fire box and are thus additionally held against displacement. I build the wall of several of these transverse rows; in the instance illustrated in the drawings of four rows of refractory bricks, and to maintain this wall in its inclined position I provide a refractory arch E which is in a sense selfsupporting. I build this arch-of a number. I

of pairs of bricks e each pair bf bricks spanning from side sheet to side sheet of the fire box and I support these bricks upon the side sheets by means of lugs or brick-sup porting projections e which I secure in any suitable-manner to the firebox side sheets. In the drawings I have. shown this arch as being made up of two' pairs of these bricks e the first pair being adaptedto receive the upper end of the wall and the second being arranged in contact with and against the first pair. As additional security I provide additional lugs e, similar .toth'e lugs e, and

against which the upper end of the arch E rests. These lugs serve to prevent the arch E from being moved longitudinally of the fire box out of its position, as shown, and the 5 arch therefore serves to maintain-the wall in its desired position. In some instances the lugs e are not necessary, for in many fire boxes the upper part of the fire box narrows so rapidly, and'the arch E being in an inclined osition it is wedged in' position so firmly etween the side sheets that it needs no additional means of holding against longitudinal movement in the fire box. The contacting ends of the bricks c of which the arch E is built are provided with mutually interlocking tongues and grooves e and 0 respectively, which serve to hold the inner ends of these bricks in relative position and ,thereby aid in maintaining the arch in its position against the destructive jars and vibrations to which such devices are subjected.

I preferably arrange the bricks in the alternate rows of the wall B in such relation to each other that they break joints as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This arrangement of the bricks serves to interlock the rows of bricks anal the individual bricks together and therebytaids in maintaining the wall in its position. I provide in the wall itself a number of centrally arranged air ducts 6 These ducts extend upwardly from the lower end of the wall and emerge from its rear face ust below the arch E and serve to admit free air to the fire box at a.

point where therising gases of combustion can advantageously make use of additional air. I provide the bridge C with suitable openings 0 registering with the lower ends of the air ducts I) and through which air isvent an indraft of air through-the cinder-- outlet D I provide its lower end with a cover (1 which is normally held closed by means of a spring (Z and is adapted to be opened .50 when it desired to withdraw or remove the accumulation of cinders from the lower part of the auxiliary combustion chamber (1*.

As shown in the drawings I preferably build the wall C of brick members of such a size that they can be readily passed through the fuel door into the fire box without dis turbing the grate, and I am thereby enabled to build and repair the wall with the expenditure of the least amount of time and labor.

It is to be noted that the bafiie as a whole does not prevent the repairing of the flues and flue sheet for should it occur that there isnot sufficient room between the upper edge of the arch and the-crown sheet to admit the workman the arch itself can be readily removed to provide a passage sufficiently large.

It will now be apparent that my unique form and construction of baffle can, on account of being substantially self-supporting, be installed at relatively small expense; that it serves to provide an auxiliary combustion chamber of desirable dimensions in a relatively short fire box; and that in association with these desirablefeatures a cinder outlet can be provided without a reduction of the grate area to such an extent that the capacity of the fire box is diminished to a noticeable extent.

As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, I do not limit or confine my invention to the specific structures herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. In a locomotive boiler fire box a trans verse wall rising from the floor of the fire -box and arranged in upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, in combination witha selfsustaining arch arranged adjacent to the upper end ofthe wall and extending rearwardly through the fire box, said arch serving to maintain the wall in its inclined position.

2. In a locomotive boiler fire box a transverse refractory wall arranged in the forward end of the box adjacent to the flue sheet and rising from substantially the level of the grate in a rearwardly inclined position, and a self-sustaining transverse refractory arch arranged adjacent to the upper end of the wall and serving to hold the wall in its inclined position, the lower end of the wall being spaced from thefiue sheet, the fire box being provided with an opening through which the accumulation of cinders in the space between the wall and fine sheet may be removed.

3. In a locomotive boiler firebox the combination with a grate, of a transverse bridge member arranged at the forward end of the grate-and supported by the walls of the fire box, a transverse refractory wall resting upon and supported by the bridge member and rising in the fire box in rearwardly inclined position, a transverse refractory selfsupporting arch adjacent to the upper end of the wall and against which the wall leans and by which the wall is supported, air ducts extending vertically through the wall and opening through the upper part of the rear face thereof, the bridge member being provided with suitable openings through which free air is supplied to said ducts.

- 4. A locomotive boiler fire box divided into main and auxiliary combustion chambers by means of an inclined refractory transverse wall arranged at the forward end thereof and rising from substantially the grate surface,

thereby said wall being maintained in position by means of a transverse refractory arch, said arch maintained by and upon the side sheets of the fire box and held thereon against longitudinal movement in the fire box, the wall resting at its upper end against the forward end of the arch and being maintained in position.

5. In a locomotive boiler fire box a transverse refractory wall arranged in the'forward end thereof and spaced rearwardly from the flue sheet, a transverse metallic bridge member upon which this wall is supported, the wall r1 sinr from the bridge member in rearwardly inclined position, flanges on the bridge member engaging the lower end of'the wall whereby the lower end of the wall is held against movement longitudinally in the fire box, a transverse self-sustaining arch adjacent to the upper end of the arch'wall and against which the wall leans and whereuy the wall is supported in its inclined position.

6. In a locomotive boiler fire box a transverse refractory wall arranged in the for ward end thereof, a transverse bridge member upon which the wall rests and by which it is supported, the plurality of horizontal rows of mutually interlocking bricks, side flanges on the brid e member engaging the lower row of bric s and by which this row is held in position,

and a transverse refractory arch arranged in the fire box adjacent to the upper end of the wall and against. which the upper end of the wall rests and by which the wall is supported.

wall being built up of a I v 7. In a locomotive boiler fire box a transverse refractory wall arranged in the forward end thereof, a transverse bridge menuher secured to the fire box and upon which i the wall is supported, said wall being composed of horizontal rows of bricks, each row containing a plurality of bricks, and the bricks in adjacent rows being arranged to break joints, the transverse contacting surfaces of the bricks being provided with mutually engaging parts whereby the bricks of the wall mutually-retain each other in position, flanges on the brid e member retaining the lower end of the wa l in position, and a transverse self-sustaining refractory arch arranged adjacent to the upper end of the wall and by which the wall is maintained in its inclined position.

8. In a locomotive boiler fire box a transverse refractory wall arranged in the forward end of the box adjacent to the flue sheet and rising from substantially the level of the grate in rearwardly inclined position, a transverse refractory arch arranged end of the wall sup adjacent to the upper ported by the side sheets ofv the fire box and serving to hold the wall in its inclined position, and vertically arranged air admission assages in said wall adapted to admit air 1 to the fire box beneath said arch. V

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this27th day of June, 1913, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I FREDERICK F. GAINES. Witnesses: J. R. Konnrnn, J. G. KELLAM. 

